The p sound, b sound, and m
sound are created by pressing
the lips together.
The f sound and v sound requires
interaction between the bottom lip and
the top teeth.
The tip of the tongue and the front teeth
The unvoiced th and voiced th sounds are created by controlling
how the close the tip of the tongue is to the front teeth.
The front of the tongue
Accuracy of tongue position in relation to the tooth ridge is
necessary for production of the t sound, d sound, ch sound, j sound,
s sound, z sound, sh sound, zh sound, l sound, and n sound.
The back of the tongue and the soft palate
The back of the tongue interacts with the soft palate to create the
k sound, g sound, and ng sound.
The deep back of the tongue and the throat
The h sound is created by constricting the area at the very back of the mouth.
The nasal cavity
The nasal cavity is the uppermost section of the vocal tract..
The m sound, n sound, and ng sound are nasal sounds that are created when air is released through
the nasal cavity.
The vocal cords
Their vibration allows sound to be said more loudly or more quietly.
voiced
Meaning the vocal cords vibrate during their production.
unvoiced
meaning that the vocal cords do not vibrate during their production.
Manners of Articulation
The manner of articulation is the way the airstream is affected as it flows from the lungs and out the
nose and mouth.
OBSTRUENTS
Is a consonant sound formed by obstructing the outward airflow, causing increased air pressure in the
vocal tract
Stops
When the air stream enters the oral cavity it be stopped, obstructed, or flow freely.
ORAL STOP
Bilabial (k) (p) Alveolar (t) (d)
Velar (k) (g)
NASAL STOP
Bilabial (m)
Alveolar (n)
FRICATIVE
When the air is not stopped completely but is obstructed from flowing freely.
Labiodental (f) (V)
Dental (th)
Alveolar (s) (z)
Post-alveolar ship,
Russia, Irish
Glottal (h)
AFFRICATES
When stop consonants mix with fricative consonants.
SONORANTS
Sonorants are those articulations in which there is only a partial closure or an
unimpeded oral or nasal scape of air.
NASAL
Nasal consonants are created when you completely block air flow
through your mouth and let the air pass through your nose.
mad, clam, no, man
LATERAL
Lateral consonants are when the tongue blocks the the middle of your mouth so that air has to pass
around the sides.
“luck”
APPROXIMANT
Approximants are when two articulators come close together but not quite close enough to create air
turbulence.
wet, howard.
INTERNATIONAL PHONETIC ALPHABET
VOWELS
Close
i, y, ɯ, u
Close-mid
e, Ø, ɣ, θ, o
Opoen
a, Œ,
Open-mind
ɛ, œ, ʌ, ɔ
CONSONANTS
⟨m ɱ n ɲ ɳ ŋ⟩
⟨ꞵ⟩, ⟨ɸ⟩, ⟨ꭓ⟩
Place of Articulation
Bilabial
Bilabial consonants occur when you block/constrict airflow out of the mouth by bringing your lips
together.
/p/ /b/ /m/
Labio-Dental
Labio-dental consonants occur when you block/constrict airflow by curling your lower lip back and
raising it to touch your upper row of teeth.
/f/ /v/
Dental
Dental consonants occur when you block/constrict airflow by placing your slimy tongue against your
upper teeth.
/θ/ /ð/
Alveolar
The alveolar ridge is where your teeth meet your gums.
/n/ /t/ /d//s/ /z/ /l/
Post-Aveolar
When you retract your tongue back just a bit from the alveolar ridge, the sounds change enough to be
recognized as distinct consonants.
/ʃ/ /ʒ//tʃ/ /dʒ/
Palatal
The roof of your mouth is the hard palate. You may know it as “the place that burns like
hell when I eat pizza that is too hot.”
/j/
Velar
Behind your hard palate you have the velum or
soft palate. Unlike the bony hard palate in front
of it, the this consists of soft, mucousy tissue.
/ŋ/ /n/ /k/ /g/ /w/
Glottal
The glottis is actually two vocal folds
(i.e. vocal cords). It acts as a sort of
bottle cap to your windpipe.